Category Archives: Suspense

Damascus Station by David McCloskey

Sun, ocean beaches and a spy novel are my idea of a great vacation! I read this back in February while I was in Mexico and it did not disappoint. Sam Joseph, an agent with the CIA, has been looking … Continue reading

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Dear Mr. M by Herman Koch, Translated by Sam Garrett

Herman Koch is an extraordinary writer. His books, however, often leave you disconcerted and uneasy. Koch does this not by using shock tactics or gruesome descriptions, but by exploring the human heart, particularly the parts that seem civilized but have … Continue reading

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The Trinity Six by Charles Cumming

Books about spies and spying always fascinate to me. But there are very few authors who get behind the glamour and illusions into the soul of spying.  John Le Caré is of course at the top of the list and … Continue reading

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The Last Thing He Told Me by Laura Dave

There seem to be a steady stream of books that place the main character, mostly female, in dangerous, disorienting situations not of their own making. It is a clever plot line, but one that can quickly become hackneyed if not … Continue reading

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Bullet Train by Kotaro Isaka (author) and Sam Malissa (Translator)

Bullet Train is one of these books people who know and understand Japanese culture will love, and those who love complicated, twisty suspense will also appreciate for its intricate plot lines. The premise: murder on a train, would seem to … Continue reading

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What I Am Reading On Vacation!

When you read this I am hoping to be on the beach in Mexico! We were not able to go last year, pandemic and all, but this year we decided to go even if it was a bit risky to … Continue reading

Posted in Beach Read, Books to take on vacation, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Literary Fiction, Series, Spy/Covert Operatives, Suspense, Thriller | Leave a comment

The Guest List by Lucy Foley

This book was listed by The New York Times as one of the “Best Thrillers of the Year,” so I gave it a try and was surprised that it was so popular. This book borrows heavily from Agatha Christie’s “county house” mysteries, where … Continue reading

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The Western Wind by Samantha Harvey

It is fascinating to me how the way a story is told increases or diminishes its impact. The generally accepted way to tell a story is in chronological order. Sometimes writers will add flashbacks to give more background or to … Continue reading

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The Man Who Died Twice by Richard Osman

A few days after Christmas, after everyone had left or had gone back to work, I started reading this book. It was the perfect antidote for the after holiday blues! Between cleaning up the wapping paper and putting away the … Continue reading

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A Master of Djinn by P. Djèlí Clark

Fatma el-Sha’arawi is an agent for the Ministry of Alchemy, Enchantments and Supernatural Entities. Although she is the youngest woman serving in the agency, she already has an impressive track record for preventing magical entities (djinn) from upsetting the carefully … Continue reading

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